Why log in?

The login sign can be found on each search page, top right. It will allow access to additional search facilities. You can download more records: 1000 records instead of the usual 500. And you can use the super search field: it allows you to enter a large number of search terms at once instead of one at a time. The super search field accepts only identifiers or IDs of Cinema Context relating to films, cinemas, programmes, companies, and persons. It will accelerate the search process. You can login right away with your UvAnetID if you are registered at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Others will have to send a request for access to k.dibbets@xs4all.nl

What is the purpose of My Data?

The short answer is that My Data allows you to save your search results temporarily at Cinema Context. You can download a saved dataset of My Data to your computer in order to use it in a database like MS Access for further analysis. You may store as many as 500 records in My Data if you are not logged in; otherwise you can store up to 1000 records in My Data. You can add all your search results to My Data with a single click on Add all to my data. It is also possible to select the relevant data one by one and add them to My Data by clicking on the icon next to each record. A more detailed answer is available at Cinema Context’s support page.

How can I download data to my computer?

Why would I evaluate the results of my analysis?

It is important to review the results of your analysis critically before jumping to conclusions. What do these results actually mean and are the supporting data sufficiently reliable? Maybe the data are in need of some qualification, maybe the method used is capable of some improvement, or maybe the research question should be phrased more precisely. The relationship between research question, method, and data can also be at issue. Sometimes the method doesn’t correspond well to the question, or the available data are less useful for a specific method. Your evaluation can shed a critical light on the initial research question. That’s why you will find a brief discussion of the findings at the end of the tutorial cases. More information on the possibilities and limitations of Cinema Context is also available on the About page.

What is a query?

A query is a search question in a database. The question has to be formulated in ‘Structured Query Language’ or SQL. You can build your own query without any training in SQL using an interactive tool of the MS Access database, the query builder. You must have some understanding of the available tables and their relationships in the datamodel. Cinema Context has a sophisticated datamodel; the schema can be downloaded here as a zip file. You don’t need this information, however, to make the exercises of the tutorial. Note that Microsoft offers an online tutorial for building queries in MS Access. Wikipedia has more information about query and datamodel.

What is a pivot table?

A pivot table is an interactive cross tabulation. Cross tabs present a summary of the relationship between two or more variables in a matrix format. You can manipulate the variables in a pivot table as much as you want to, or replace them with other variables of your data collection.

Where can I find the transformation file and why do I need it?

HowToDoInAccess.xslt is available under Downloads. MS Access will use this file to transform the data which it imports from Cinema Context after downloading My Data. The file contains instructions so MS Access will know what to do during the import process. Please save the file to your computer before you want to import your first download of My Data from Cinema Context. After downloading HowToDoInAccess.xslt and My Data you’ll follow these import instructions in MS Access:

Open File > Get External Data > Import.

Go to the folder with the download of My Data.

Select XML from the pull-down menu Files of type.

Select the previously saved contents of your My Data set.

Click on Options > Transform.

Click on Add to add the file HowToDoInAccess.xslt from the folder in which you have just saved this file, and click on OK. Then click on OK once more.

What is a permalink and where can I find it at Cinema Context?

A permalink is a stable, durable link (URL). This feature is typical for dynamic websites like Cinema Context, where content is changing all the time. A permalink will always refer to the right page. It is also very convenient as a reference or citation in a publication. You will find the permalink on pages with details about a particular film, cinema, person or company. It is located on the right side just below the tabs. Copy the permalink and paste it in your webpage or publication.

What is XML?

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. An XML document contains text with instructions for the processing of data included in the text. It is similar to HTML, the formatting code of webpages, but XML is designed to structure the data. Cinema Context data are downloaded as an XML document.

Why do I see a message ‘Sort threshold exceeded’?

The message ‘Sort threshold exceeded’ indicates that your search has generated more than 1000 records which meet your criteria. Cinema Context will show all the records, but it cannot sort them. If you want to sort, you’ll have to refine your search. There is another restriction. You can save and download up to 500 records in My Data without a need to login. If you have a permission to login, you can save and download up to 1000 records.